Portable applicator for pulsed signal therapy

ABSTRACT

A portable applicator ( 20 ) for pulsed signal therapy comprises: an elastic supporting body ( 25 ), which can expand in a planar manner; at least two signal generating units ( 11, 12 ), which are arranged in or on the elastic supporting body ( 25 ) whereby being symmetric with regard to an axis of symmetry of the supporting body ( 25 ), and; a device for supplying a control signal ( 17, 18 ) to the signal generating units ( 11, 12 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a portable applicator to be used for pulsedsignal therapy to treat disorders of the musculoskeletal system or otherphysical conditions requiring treatment which respond to pulsed fields.

Hereby, it is essential that the pulsed fields are applied to the pointsof the body in a suitable strength and at a suitable frequency for aspecific time in order to excite specific tissue systems in the body,for example the ions contained in the musculoskeletal system, forexample in synovial fluids and soft tissue.

PRIOR ART

Known for, this treatment are stationary devices comprising, forexample, applicators with magnetic windings which generate magneticfields of a predetermined strength and with a specific pulse frequency.These applicators are bulky and designed to permit treatment at aspecific installation site, for example a doctor's practice. Thepatient's organs to be treated are placed in a suitable manner in theseapplicators, which are generally connected to frames, such as a bed, onwhich the patient may sit or lie.

A system of this kind is described, for example, in EP 0 528 964. This,system comprises an annular coil which is used to generate a magneticfield in the interior of the coil. The magnetic field is directed at thebody organ or tissue to be treated and has a field strength of less than20 gauss. At the same time, the magnetic field is pulsed with afrequency of from 1 to 30 Hz (pulses/second).

The device described in this publication is in particular suitable fortreating knee or elbow joints since the patient has to place the organor body part in the field generated by the magnetic coil, i.e. has toguide the body organ through the coil. Since the coil is relativelyunwieldy and rigid, the device is not suitable for transportation ormobile use.

A device suitable for mobile use is described in U.S. Pat. No.5,269,747. Here, electromagnetic fields are generated by partially rigidsignal transmitters of which there are two and which are anatomicallyshaped for a particular body organ. In the interior of these signaltransmitters, there is a battery device which is also anatomicallyshaped. The two signal transmitters are connected on the one hand by acable which transmits control signals from one signal transmitter to theother. In addition, there is an adjustable belt which forms an enclosedring for attachment to the body. The signal transmitters are attached tothis belt. The organ to be treated is for example, the spine. The signaltransmitters are, for example, constructed from two parallel primarywindings with about seven windings each, a secondary winding with about35 windings and a sensor winding with at least one winding. The signalgenerators are hereby at least partially in contact with the organ to betreated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One object of the invention is to develop a portable applicator forpulsed signal therapy which is comfortable for the patient and at thesame time may be effectively used for different organs and tissues.Another object of the invention is to develop a device for pulsed signaltherapy which is portable and simple for a patient to operate.

This object is achieved by an applicator with the features of claim 1and a device with the features of claim 15.

Hereby, the invention is based on the object of fixing signal generatingunits inside an elastic supporting body in such a way that, on the onehand, flexible use for different body organs is ensured; this isachieved by the symmetrical arrangement of the signal generating unitsin or on the supporting body.

In addition, the arrangement is preferably not enclosed, for example ina ring shape, but during the treatment lies in a U-shape around or onthe patient's organ. The supporting body has a main plane in relation towhich it can be spread over a surface. The symmetry plane, in relationto which the signal generating units are arranged symmetrically, lies inthis main plane and is preferably also a symmetry plane of thesupporting body.

In addition, the object is also achieved by the fact that the signalgenerating units are secured in or on the elastic supporting body andthat the supporting body can be spread over a surface. This means thatthe patient only comes into direct contact with the supporting body andnot with the, for the most part, rigid and stiff signal generatingunits, which is pleasant for a patient due to the elasticity of thesupporting body and does not cause any discomfort. The elasticity of thesupporting body also prevents rigid parts or parts perceived as annoyingfor any other reason from coming into contact with the patient—insteadthe supporting body adapts to the anatomy of the body organ to betreated.

The symmetrical arrangement of the signal generating units enables thedistance between the signal generating units to be varied when theapplicator is placed on a body organ so that the applicator is equallysuitable for different body organs, whereby within the body organ to betreated, the same pulsed signals may be generated for different bodyorgans or the pulsed signals may be adapted to the organ in question,for example, with regard to their strength.

Advantageous embodiments are characterised by the other claims.

For example, according to one advantageous embodiment the signalgenerating units are embodied as annular coils. These annular coils mayhave an air core or a ferrite core. The use of annular coils as signalgenerating units facilitates the arrangement of these annular coils as aHelmholtz coil pair. For this, they are arranged and switched in series.This enables the elastic supporting body to be positioned appropriatelyaround the joint to be treated whereby the signal generating unitsembedded therein or attached thereto are positioned in the form ofannular coils in such a way that the preferably identical coils arearranged in parallel and coaxially to each other. In addition, if theannular coils are arranged in or on the supporting body in such a waythat the distance between the annular coils is one to two ring coilradii, the annular coils as signal generating units may be placed aroundthe organ to be treated in such a way that the distance between them isequal to one coil radius. This causes them to function as a Helmholtzpair and to generate an approximately uniform magnetic field in thespace between the coils used to treat the body organ:

If a radius of from 2 to 20 cm, in particular approximately 3.5 to 4 cm,is chosen for the annular coils, this is suitable for the majority ofbody organs, in particular also for the most usual body sizes.

Advantageously, the supporting body has a kidney-shaped or bone-shapedform in cross section, i.e. in the section parallel to the main plane ofthe supporting body. This in turn facilitates the comfortable adaptationof the supporting body when it is placed around a body organ with thesignal generating units. In particular when placed around a shoulderorgan or similar, this will ensure the comfortable positioning of theapplicator on the patient.

According to a preferred embodiment, at the least, the external layer ofthe supporting body is formed of or coated with fabric material orneoprene. This ensures a pleasant sensation for the patient when thesupporting body is placed around the patient's body organ to be treated.In addition, the fabric material and neoprene are relatively lightmaterials so that the patient does not have to support any unnecessaryapplicator weight when the applicator is placed on the body organ to betreated during the relatively long treatment duration of up to andlonger than one hour.

The signal generating units may preferably also be embedded in aprotective body. This ensures that the signal generating units areaccommodated robustly with protection against impact and/or damageinside the elastic supporting body or on it on a side facing away fromthe body organ during the treatment. Since the applicator is to bedesigned as a portable applicator which can be carried by the user withno problem and used in different locations, for example for treatmentwhile the user is doing office work or sitting in front of thetelevision, this is advantageous since the protective body protects theactual signal generating units from damage from impacts and the like.

A preferred protective body is, for example, a synthetic resin sheath,which may be soft, in which the signal generating units are embedded. Asynthetic resin sheath of this kind may be designed as a compact bodywith smooth external surfaces so that no projections, sharp or pointededges or similar on the signal generating units that could be annoyingduring the use of the applicator may be felt. In addition, it is simpleand inexpensive to embed the signal generating units in synthetic resinsheaths of this kind used as protective bodies. A different type ofprotective body, for example a plastic casing or similar, is obviouslyalso possible.

In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment, the signalgenerating units, possibly embedded in a protective body, may becompletely embedded in the elastic supporting body. This means that theuser does not come into direct contact with the signal generating unitsor the protective bodies for the signal generating units which again maycause unpleasant sensations.

Preferably, the signal generating units generate a pulsed magnetic fieldwith a field strength of less than 20 gauss between the signalgenerating units, i.e. in the area to be treated. Magnetic fields ofthis type have been found to be particularly effective for the treatmentof diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

Advantageously, the signal generating units will be fed with a controlsignal in the form of pulsed DC voltage with a rate of from 1 to 30pulses, more preferably from 1 to 12 pulses, per second, whereby thecontrol signal has a quasi rectangular pulse shape with an abruptlyrising and abruptly falling voltage. This enables fields which areparticularly suitable for treating unusual conditions of themusculoskeletal system to be generated in the treatment area, i.e. thearea between the signal generating units, when the applicator is placedon the body organ to be treated. These control signals are supplied bymeans of the device for feeding the control signals to the signalgenerating units.

Apart from the applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 14, thedevice for pulsed signal therapy comprises a control device with whichit is easy for the user to switch the applicator on and off and, ifappropriate, choose between different pulsed signal frequencies ordifferent field strengths. In addition, according to a preferredembodiment, an external power supply unit may be provided that isconnected to the control device and supplies the control device with therequired electricity. According to preferred embodiments, the powersupply unit may be detached from the control device and/or the controldevice may be detached from the applicator, which ensures that thedevice for pulsed signal therapy may be easily transported, for example,by accommodating the applicator, the control device and the power supplyunit each in separate compartments of a transportation bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION, OF THE DRAWING

The invention will now be further described, purely by way of example,with reference to the drawings in which

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a device for pulsed signal therapy wherebythe applicator is shown in partial cross section

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the applicator

FIG. 3 is a second embodiment of the applicator, and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the applicator along the liney-y in FIG. 3 when the applicator is in treatment position.

WAYS TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a device for pulsed signal therapy in a first embodiment.The device is generally indicated by the reference number 10. The devicecomprises an applicator 20, a control device 30 and a power supply unit40 whereby the control device 30 is connected to the applicator 20 onthe one hand and the power supply unit 40 on the other. The power supplyunit 40 is used for connection to a normal mains network and may, ifnecessary, be adapted according to the different current strengths andvoltages in different countries.

Provided on the control device 30 are various devices in order, on theone hand, to switch the applicator on and off and, on the other, toadjust the desired treatment strength and, if necessary, the treatmentfrequency depending on the type of signal generating units. Provided inthis case are a device 31 for setting the field strength and a device 32for setting a frequency with which the field is pulsed. The controldevice 30, the power supply unit 40 and the applicator 10 are connecteddetachably to each other, for example by a simple plug connection in theform of a conventional plug.

The power supply unit 40 and the control device 30 each have dimensionsapproximately in the range 10×15×10 cm so that they are each easy totransport. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the applicator 20 iskidney-shaped. This shape is in particular favourable if the applicatormight possibly also be used to treat the shoulder joint since thepatient's neck will fit comfortably in the recess in the kidney shape.

In alternative embodiments, in the main plane, for example a top view,the applicator is bone-shaped, as shown in FIG. 3. Here the depth of therecess depends upon whether, for example, the shoulder joint is also tobe treated with the applicator or only the knee or elbow joint or whichother organs are to be treated. It is also possible for the recesses tobe given different depths and radii on the two sides so that, dependingupon the applicator's direction of rotation, it is always possible tofind a comfortable position during use and so the patient does notexperience any discomfort from the outline of the supporting body duringtreatment.

Obviously, it is also possible for the applicator to have an oval orrectangular shape, whereby these shapes are not preferred since theapplicator is on the one hand less flexible in use and, on the other,will be more uncomfortable for the patient during the treatment ofcertain body organs.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, there is a signal connection betweenthe signal generating units 11, 12 shown schematically which are bothembedded in protective bodies 13, 14. In the embodiment shown, theprotective bodies 13, 14 take the form of relatively thick circulardisks which is advantageous as they have few perceptible edges. However,their thickness is preferably restricted to the minimum degree possiblerequired for the embedding of the signal generating units to ensure thatthe applicator is not unnecessarily bulky. Other alternative shapes forthe protective bodies are, for example, lenticular shapes, which haveeven fewer perceptible edges, or even polygonal shapes or similar.

The signal generating units 11, 12 have a fixed position in theprotective bodies 13, 14 so that their position relative to theprotective bodies 13, 14 does not change during usage or transportation.In a similar way, the protective bodies 13, 14 are each positioned inthe supporting body 25 in such a way that their position does not changeeither. This is possible, for example, due to the fact that thesupporting-body 25 is provided with notches or pockets corresponding tothe shape of the protective bodies 13, 14 so that they are unable tomove or only able move to an insignificant degree.

The supporting body 25 comprises one or more layers of an elasticmaterial, for example neoprene or a fabric material, whereby thesupporting body may also have a multi-layer structure. For example, itis, also possible for one or more layers to be foam layers. Hereby, thesupporting body should remain as soft as possible and to a certainextent elastic so that it may be placed around different body organs andbe adapted to match the shape of body organs. In addition, it isadvisable to provide cushioning in the area of the signal generatingunits and the signal generating units' protective bodies 13, 14—this maybe provided, for example, by the neoprene layer—so that the user doesnot feel the protective bodies for the signal generating units and thesignal generating units and possibly find them uncomfortable.

FIG. 2 shows as an example that in the area of the signal generatingunits 11, 12 and the protective bodies for the signal generating unit13, 14, the supporting body's sheathing layer 25 is thickened so thatthe protective body forms a cushion for the protective bodies, in thisarea and remains soft.

In any case, the supporting body 25 must be able to transmit the signalsor pulsated fields generated in the signal generating units 11, 12.

Unlike the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, however, it is also possible todesign the supporting body 25 with a uniform thickness in all areas.However, it is advantageous to have a taper in the area in which thereare no signal generating units 11, 12 since this facilitates theelasticity and adaptability of the supporting body 25 to the body organto be treated. It also saves weight.

The signal generating units 11, 12 may, for example, take the form ofHelmholtz coils. Here, the annular coils 11, 12 may have an air orferrite core.

The protective bodies 13, 14 are, for example, in the form of asynthetic resin sheath. It should be noted with regard to the dimensionsthat, in the case of Helmholtz coils, the annular coils 11, 12 have aradius of from 5 to 20 cm which has been found to be advantageous forthe treatment of different body organs. The two coils 11, 12 are herebyidentical and symmetrical relative to an axis of symmetry x-X of thesupporting body (see FIG. 3). This enables the applicator 20 to beeffectively positioned around a body organ (tissue or joint) so that thecoils 11, 12 are aligned parallel to each other and coaxially, wherebyadvantageously the distance between the two coils and hence also thedistance between each coil and the axis of symmetry X is dimensioned sothat the distance between the two coils when they are aligned parallelto each other and coaxially and placed around a body organ correspondsapproximately to the radius of one single coil. In this case, the coilsfunction as a Helmholtz coil pair and generate an approximately uniformmagnetic field in the space between the coils, with, depending upon theinput signal applied by the control device 30, said field functioning asa pulsed field, whereby advantageously the field strength is less than20 gauss and the pulse frequency is in the range of from 1 to 30pulses/second.

For simple circuit control, the two signal generating units 11, 12, forexample the coils as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, have asuitable electrical connection 16 with each other. For connection to thecontrol device, a connection cable 17 is provided on one of the coils 11terminating in a plug connector 18. A suitably fitting plug connectorbelonging to the control device 30 may be used in this plug connector.

In addition, care should be taken with regard to the applicator 20 thata light material as far as its weight is concerned is selected for thesupporting body 25 so that the patient does not bear any unnecessaryweight.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing how the applicator 20 ispositioned around a body joint, here using the example of a knee. Thisclearly shows that during the treatment the signal generating units 11,12 are essentially aligned parallel to each other whereby theapplicator's 20 line of symmetry X-X is now perpendicular to the drawingplane.

The elasticity and the corresponding shape of the supporting body 25 forthe applicator 20 enables the applicator to be suitably placed arounddifferent body organs. This permits the comfortable treatment ofdifferent body organs with the same applicator. In addition, due to itsgood elasticity, the applicator is easy to fold and hence easy totransport, in particular when the associated control device and, ifapplicable, power supply unit are detachable from the applicator 20.

The essential aspect of the invention is the fact that it develops aneffective applicator for pulsed signal therapy which is suitable formobile use.

1. A portable applicator for pulsed signal therapy comprising: anelastic supporting body which can expand in a planar manner and bespread over a surface and during treatment lies in a U-shape around oron a body part to be treated, the supporting body being adapted to liein a U-shape around a patient's organ, and being kidney-shaped orlong-bone shaped; at least two annular coils which are arranged in or onthe elastic supporting body symmetrically to an axis of symmetry of thesupporting body, one of the coils being arranged on one side of the axisof symmetry and the other one of the coils being arranged on the otherside of the axis of symmetry, the annular coils being arranged in seriesforming a Helmholtz coil pair so that the applicator may be applied todifferent body parts; and a device for supplying a control signal to theannular coils.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The applicator according to claim 1,wherein the annular coils have a ferrite core. 4-5. (canceled)
 6. Theapplicator according to claim 1, wherein the annular coils have a radiusof from 5 to 20 cm. 7-8. (canceled)
 9. The applicator according to claim1, wherein the supporting body comprises fabric material and/orneoprene.
 10. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the annularcoils are embedded in a protective body.
 11. The applicator according toclaim 10, wherein the protective body is a synthetic resin sheath. 12.The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the annular coils areembedded in the elastic supporting body.
 13. The applicator according toclaim 1, wherein the annular coils generate a pulsated magnetic fieldwith a field strength of less than 20 gauss.
 14. The applicatoraccording to claim 1, wherein the control signal is pulsed DC voltagewith a rate of from 1 to 30 pulses a second, and has a rectangular pulseshape with an abruptly rising and abruptly falling voltage.
 15. A devicefor pulsed signal therapy comprising the applicator according to claim 1and a control device which supplies signals to the applicator.
 16. Thedevice according to claim 15 further comprising an external power supplyunit connected to the control device.
 17. The device according to claim16, wherein the power supply unit is detachable from the control device.18. The device according to claim 15, wherein the control device isdetachable from the applicator.
 19. The applicator according to claim 1,wherein the control signal is pulsed DC voltage with a rate of from 1 to12 pulses a second, and has a rectangular pulse shape with an abruptlyrising and abruptly falling voltage.
 20. A portable applicator forpulsed signal therapy comprising: an elastic supporting body which canbe spread over a surface and during treatment lies in a U-shape aroundor on a body part to be treated, the supporting body being adapted tolie in a U-shape around a patient's organ; at least two annular coilswhich are arranged in a soft synthetic resin sheath in the elasticsupporting body symmetrically to an axis of symmetry of the supportingbody, one of the coils being arranged on one side of the axis ofsymmetry and the other one of the coils being arranged on the other sideof the axis of symmetry, the annular coils being arranged in seriesforming a Helmholtz coil pair so that the applicator may be applied todifferent body parts; and